The City Council took a preliminary vote Wednesday on legislation aimed at making it legal and fair for food trucks to operate within Pittsburgh city limits.

The City Council took a preliminary vote Wednesday on legislation aimed at making it legal and fair for food trucks to operate within Pittsburgh city limits.

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Updated: 1:38 PM EST Dec 9, 2015

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WEBVTT OUR JACKIE CAIN SPOKE TO CITY OFFICIALS WHO ARE WORKING TO CHANGE FOOD TRUCK LAWS HERE IN OUR CITY. RIGHT NOW, FOOD TRUCKS LIKE THIS ONE PARKED HERE HAVE TO FOLLOW LAWS WRITTEN WAY BACK IN THE 1970'S, AIMED AT REGULATING ICE CREAM TRUCKS. THEY HAD TO MOVE EVERY 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE GRILL GETS HOT. AND TODAY, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE WORKING TO CHANGE THAT. COUNCILMAN GILMAN SAYS HE'S BEEN TWEAKING THIS BILL TRYING TO MAKE IT LEGAL AND FAIR FOR FOOD TRUCKS TO OPERATE IN PITTSBURGH. OUR FOOD SCENE IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BRINGS YOUNG PEOPLE HERE AND CREATES TOURISM. AND A LOT OF CHEFS IN THE HOT BRICK AND MORTAR, THEY'VE SIGNED A PETITION. THEY SEE IT AS A FOOD CULTURE, NOT AS COMPETITION. IF IT PASSES, $1200 WOULD ALLOW THEM TO OPERATE FOR 12 MONTHS AND THEY HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S RULES AND REGULATIONS. NOW THEY'D BE ABLE TO STAY ANYWHERE FOR FOUR HOURS AND PARK AT A PARKING METER, AS LONG AS THEY PAID THE METER AND FOLLOWED THE PARKING REGULATION. ALLOWED THEM TO BE A LITTLE TALLER THAN LONGER THAN THE EXISTING ONE. SOMETHING ELSE I PUT IN THERE, IT'S NOT BINDING, BUT ENCOURAGED WITH YOUR PERMIT, HOW TO LOCALLY SOURCE YOUR FOOD. NOT EVERYONE IS IN FAVOR OF THE BILL. JEREMY WALL DROP OF THE PITTSBURGH PARTISANSHIP SUPPORTS FOOD TRUCKS AND WORKS WITH MANY ON A REGULAR BASIS AND HAS A CONCERN, ALLOWING FOOD TRUCKS TO OPERATE AT 500 METERED SPACES WITHOUT STANDING EVER THE STREET AND SIDEWALK CONGESTION IS A RECIPE FOR CHAOS, END QUOTE. THEY SUGGESTED A SPECIAL DISTRICT FOR FOOD TRUCKS WITH SPECIFIC LOCATIONS AND HOURS. SOME RESTAURANT OPERATORS HAVE LIMITED PARKING SPACES AND CONCERNS. THE TRUCKS WOULD TAKE UP SPOTS FOR THEIR GUESTS. CITY COUNCIL WILL MAKE A

City Council votes on Pittsburgh food truck legislation

The City Council took a preliminary vote Wednesday on legislation aimed at making it legal and fair for food trucks to operate within Pittsburgh city limits.